Rival protesters have clashed in the Netherlands over traditional pre-Christmas celebrations that involve a character in "blackface" make-up.

Unrest occurred in several towns where annual festivals have been taking place to welcome the arrival of Sinterklaas, a Dutch figure said to be the origin of Santa Claus.

A row has been ongoing in the country over the last couple of years over the use of performers in the celebrations who blacken their faces to play Sinterklaas's assistant called Zwarte Piet, or Black Pete.

The origins of the Zwarte Piet character are disputed, but theories claim they may relate to medieval depictions of St Nicholas being helped by the devil, the saint having an assistant who would take bad children back to Spain, and that assistant being a Moor.